How long does an upset stomach last in dogs?

3 Remedies for Upset Stomach in Dogs

When you have an upset stomach, you probably reach for ginger ale or crackers to settle your tummy. But what should you do when your dog’s stomach is out of sorts?

Here’s some information about the causes and symptoms of upset stomach in dogs and tips for how to make your pup feel better with natural remedies.

Common Causes of Upset Stomach in Dogs

There are many reasons your dog may have an upset stomach, though there’s one common cause: they ate something they shouldn’t have, says Kathy Backus, DVM, at Holistic Veterinary Services in Kaysville, Utah.

“Dogs are curious like kids; they’re always putting things in their mouth,” she says. “Vomiting and diarrhea are signs that a dog’s body is trying to expel something that shouldn’t be in their system. In a healthy dog, it’s a protective mechanism of the body that’s totally normal.”

These are a few (of many) things that can trigger an upset stomach in dogs:

Ingesting something that they shouldn’t
Bacterial imbalances within the digestive tract
Chronic conditions such as food sensitivities

Symptoms of Upset Stomach in Dogs

The most common signs of upset stomach in dogs are diarrhea and vomiting. If your dog is nauseous, you may also see him eat grass to soothe his stomach or try to induce vomiting, says Jody Bearman, DVM at Anshen Veterinary Acupuncture, Madison, Wisconsin.

Watch for other signs of upset stomach in dogs, such as:

Decreased appetite or loss of appetite
Fatigue
Drinking less water
Seeming depressed
Looking uncomfortable and stretching more often (like they are attempting a downward dog)
Gulping to combat reflux
Licking their lips, the air, or objects

When to Call Your Vet

Monitor your pup’s symptoms. If your dog is consistently uncomfortable, or if the signs worsen at any point, call your veterinarian.

Watch for these signs:

Increasing discomfort
Vomiting or having an episode of diarrhea more than twice
Blood in their vomit or stool
Toy or other foreign object in their vomit or stool
Weakness or collapse

These can all be signs of something more serious, including pancreatitis, stomach bloating, a severe allergic reaction, or internal parasites.

If you realize that your dog has eaten something he shouldn’t have—a plant, food, toy, or chemical—you should seek immediate veterinary care.

If your primary veterinarian is unavailable, call your local emergency veterinary hospital. They will be able to advise whether your pet needs to be seen or whether you can continue to monitor him at home.

You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline at 888-426-4435 for a fee. They can also determine a poison’s level of toxicity and recommended care for your dog.

3 Remedies for Upset Stomach in Dogs

It is crucial to consult with your veterinarian before administering any home remedies to soothe your pup’s tummy troubles. If your veterinarian recommends at-home monitoring, these are a few ideas you can ask them about trying while you are at home with your dog.

Fasting

When your dog’s stomach is trying to get rid of something, it can be helpful to stop putting more things in their stomach for 12-24 hours, Dr. Backus says. “If the gastrointestinal (GI) system is having a tough time, you don’t want it to digest things.”

Fasting may seem simple enough, but it’s important to speak with your veterinarian first because some dogs (particularly small breeds or those with prior health conditions) cannot tolerate fasting as well as others.

If your veterinarian does recommend fasting, ask whether they would like you to start a bland diet (and what they recommend) after the fasting period is complete.

Ice Cubes

When your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, you want them to stay hydrated, but giving him too much water may make his stomach even more upset, Dr. Backus says.

Monitoring your dog’s water intake and discouraging gulping is important. Offer your dog ice chips to help encourage drinking.

If your dog can keep down small quantities of water or ice chips, you can gradually increase the amount and how often you are offering the water and ice.

Canned Pumpkin

When fighting indigestion and upset stomach in dogs, 100% canned pumpkin is a favorite of many holistic veterinarians.

“It has a low glycemic index, so it slowly absorbs, which helps with upset stomach and digestion,” Dr. Bearman says.

Make sure to get 100% canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix, as you don’t want to feed your dog spices and other ingredients, she says. Check that there are no ingredients listed other than pumpkin (such as sugar or sugar substitutes).

According to Dr. Bearman, smaller dogs (approximately 5 pounds) can be fed one-half teaspoon of canned pumpkin, while larger dogs (approximately 75 pounds) can be fed 1 tablespoon.

Is Upset Stomach in Dogs a Sign of Food Allergies?

An upset stomach every once in a while can be normal in a dog, but if it happens often, it could signal that something is wrong in their GI tract, says Randy Aronson, DVM, of P.A.W.S. Veterinary Center in Tucson, Arizona.

If digestive upset is a frequent occurrence for your dog, discuss the possibility of a food allergy with your veterinarian. When food allergies are diagnosed in dogs, it is often an allergy to a protein source, which is why a more “novel” protein (one that your dog has never eaten) may be recommended.

There are many options on the market, but examples may include beef, buffalo, venison, or lamb.

How to Help Prevent Upset Stomach in Dogs

To help your dog maintain a healthy gut, consider giving them a prebiotic and probiotic, Dr. Aronson says. There are both prebiotics and probiotics that are made specifically for dogs, some of which are available over the counter. Be sure to ask your veterinarian if they have a particular brand recommendation.

Always talk to your veterinarian first to find out the best course of action.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/Igor Normann

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Does Your Dog Have an Upset Stomach or Is It Something More?

Working as a small animal veterinarian, one of the most common ailments I see in dogs is upset stomach. About 50% of the appointments I see in a day are cases of vomiting or diarrhea. Most of these dog stomach problems are caused by a simple problem with a simple solution. The most common causes of non-complicated vomiting and diarrhea are:

n Food Indiscretion (eating something they don’t normally eat)
Stress
Parasites

I generally prescribe some medications, and within a few days, the dogs are back to being themselves. On occasion, however, it’s not so simple. So as pet parents, when should we be concerned that an upset stomach may be a bigger or ongoing health concern? The best way to answer this question is to start by asking how often your dog is experiencing an upset stomach. An occasional episode of vomiting or diarrhea is usually not anything more serious. If your dog is having an episode every few months that resolves quickly or with medication, I am not too concerned, especially if these episodes are associated with eating something unusual, or a situation that may have caused stress (such as their owners leaving on a vacation, or a new pet in the home).

The next question to answer is, are there other clinical signs associated with the vomiting and diarrhea that may indicate a more serious dog digestive health problem? And finally, how severe are the vomiting and diarrhea? Clinical signs that I tell all my pet parents to look for, and which require more advanced testing include:

Multiple episodes of vomiting and diarrhea a month
Weight loss
Loss of appetite and refusing food
Chronic soft stool
Inability to keep food down due to vomiting
Lethargy and sickness
Showing signs of pain and discomfort
Multiple episodes of vomiting throughout the day despite having no food or water in their stomach

When my patients are showing any of the above-mentioned signs, I always perform more tests, such as bloodwork, radiographs and possible ultrasounds to test for more serious diseases. These clinical signs can be associated with more serious dog stomach problems such as foreign bodies, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease or even cancer. If you have any dog digestive health concerns whatsoever, please have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian.

Since digestive health in our pets is crucial to their overall well-being and a happy life, how can we help our pets with general vomiting or diarrhea?

Tips to Prevent Diarrhea:

Do not feed your pet foods that they do not eat regularly (even new treats purchased over the counter can cause diarrhea in dogs). (Nutro sensitive stomach biscuits are bland treats for dogs that are predisposed to upset bellies).
When switching foods, do it slowly over two weeks.
Make sure your pet is on a monthly heartworm prevention that protects against gastrointestinal parasites.
Have your pet tested every six months to a year for parasites.
Avoid taking your pet to places that may cause high stress or have loud noises (fireworks, public events, etc.).

Home Remedies to Give Your Pet for Diarrhea:

White rice in their regular dog food
Canned pumpkin or pumpkin treats for the fiber ( Portland Pet Food Company Pumpkin Biscuits Grain-Free & Gluten-Free Dog Treats)
Bland food ( Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Dog Food)
Probiotics labeled for dogs ( Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Fortiflora Probiotic)
Greek yogurt in their regular dog food

Most of the time, diarrhea and vomiting are resolved in a few days. However, beware of more serious dog digestive health diseases that can cause long-term diarrhea and weight loss; these dog stomach problems need to be addressed and treated by your veterinarian. If your pet is having severe diarrhea for more than a few days, or there is vomiting associated with it, or you feel your pet is acting sick, please contact your veterinarian immediately!